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Protecting Elephants

The following is copy of a letter I have sent to Cape and Islands Sen. Dan Wolf:

It has come to my attention that you will be discussing Monday a bill (S1626), to reduce abuse and torture to elephants in our great state. I urge you to support this bill. These amazing and sensitive animals are routinely tortured just by the fact that they are in captivity rather than roaming great territories; they are usually isolated in captivity when in fact they are extremely social animals. Like any wild animal they will only perform a human command if under extreme duress. The duress being the fear of being tortured. They know this fear because they have been tortured in the training process. This bill addresses two types of torture routinely used by circuses such as Barnum and Bailey, carnivals, the film industry, the advertising industry, businesses that offer elephant rides, etc. I believe that the entire wild animal industry should be better regulated and made far more humane. This bill is an important step forward for Massachusetts.

For more about how elephants are trained and routinely mistreated in the name of entertainment, go to peta.org.

Suzanna NickersonEdgartown

Comments (1)

DONNA RUSSELL, Braddock Bay, NY

Brava, Ms. Nickerson, for sharing your letter to Senator Wolf. May many Vineyard Gazette readers follow your caring heart and contact their representatives. Elephants are facing increasing brutality and decreasing numbers throughout Africa due to poaching and habitat loss. Wild Asian elephants are an endangered species due to their tragic history as "beasts of burden" (their training begins with savage beatings) and severe habitat loss. Anything we can do in this country to protect the lives of elephants, anywhere, is much needed. That includes educating the public about eliminating the use of all animals (elephants, big cats, alligators, killer whales, dolphins, etc.) for human entertainment. You have helped them all with your awareness of common suffering.